Voice acting in different languages

[Putiput]

Voice acting in different languages

Every time I start a new witcher game I am faced with the decision which language I should choose.
I like playing games in their original language but in this case this is sadly not possible. I theoretically have the choice between english, spanish, french and german (my native language) and I would like the developer's opinion on this matter: How much does CDProjekt influence the translating and voice acting process in foreign languages? Which one is closest to the original one? I think playing in foreign languages gives the game a whole new feeling, but maybe that's just me. I added a poll, and I would like only those people to answer who have actually tried multiple languages. Thanks.

 

[wichat]

mmm After the desappoiting experienced I've found in the 2 last game with voiced actors in Spanish I can only choose subtitled translation. />

 

[username_2635215]

I personally liked the german voice acting very much. I mostly play games in english, but since english isn't the "native" language of the witcher, I tried the german one. The only downside (?) is that you don't have different accents for guards, farmers, etc. (keine schwäbischen Bauern).

 

[Daywalker30]

I personally liked the german voice acting very much. I mostly play games in english, but since english isn't the "native" language of the witcher, I tried the german one. The only downside (?) is that you don't have different accents for guards, farmers, etc. (keine schwäbischen Bauern).

yes, the german voice acting is quite good and I'd say one of better german voice acting (thank god) in games, at least for some main and supporting characters.

 

[AsTheDeath]

The first Witcher is a no-brainer: play that in Polish unless you want to hurt your ears. Just use subtitles if like me you don't speak Polish. I opted for Polish as well for TW2 and kind of preferred that over the English I'm hearing in my second playthrough, but I may just be biased.

Anyway, The Witcher saga and games are Polish by origin so I'd say you should go with that as the 'original' version.

 

[vongraudenz]

Both the German and English versions are pretty good, but there are definite differences in the translations. Which one is more accurate I don't know.  I do know that there are many complaints about the Spanish version.

 

[Geralt_of_bsas]

Putiput, you can play the game with any of the languages that were recorded for the game, regardless of which ones came with your game.

Search for TW2 support or something like that in this site and you'll eventually get to download the language you want, polish especially since i also downloaded that because i like games with original voice acting and my game didnt have it.

I will search it as well and if i find it ill post a link here

 

[FoggyFishburne]

Well since Doug Cockle is voicing Geralt, it's obviously the English version that's superior. That man is a true professional. Can't wait to hear him in TW3.

............... He WILL be in TW3, right?!

 

[Tannosuke]

IMO, The Polish language is the best for the Witcher series. All the voiced languages are banned for me. If anyone wants the translated version, do them in subtitles!

Just like God of War is best with Greek voice, and ALL the translated languages must be in subtitles, NOT voiced.

 

[Geralt_of_bsas]

Hey there, i found it

http://en.thewitcher.com/ee_manual/

scroll down below all the Enhanced Edition stuff

 

[Randomdrowner2015]

Both the German and English versions are pretty good, but there are definite differences in the translations. Which one is more accurate I don't know.  I do know that there are many complaints about the Spanish version.

German version good? Really? From what I have heard, both from the game and from people who are German native speakers, the German voices are quite bad, border-line parody as someone put it.

 

[ReptilePZ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtRetJPF7yQ

 

[Daywalker30]

German version good? Really? From what I have heard, both from the game and from people who are German native speakers, the German voices are quite bad, border-line parody as someone put it.

I can't confirm that, maybe they were talking about Witcher 1 which had quite bad/average voices.

 

[Randomdrowner2015]

IMO, The Polish language is the best for the Witcher series. All the voiced languages are banned for me. If anyone wants the translated version, do them in subtitles!

Just like God of War is best with Greek voice, and ALL the translated languages must be in subtitles, NOT voiced.

God of war is an American pop culture version of Greek mythology.

Unless you are saying that the Greek voice acting has superior delivery, I would say that any attempt at "authenticity" is wasted. And even so, if there was such an attempt, the correct language would be Ancient Greek not Modern.

 

[vongraudenz]

I have played games where the German voice overs were much much worse. As for parody, there are a number of statements made in the English version that are quite humorous, or that don't fit the scene in the least bit. In a few places the German version makes the same errors. I think this comes down to the fact that they are translations, and often it is possible to be technically correct, but contextually incorrect. (Full disclosure I am a native German speaker)

 

[Randomdrowner2015]

I can't confirm that, maybe they were talking about Witcher 1 which had quite bad/average voices.

No, they where talking about W2.

 

[Randomdrowner2015]

I have played games where the German voice overs were much much worse. As for parody, there are a number of statements made in the English version that are quite humorous, or that don't fit the scene in the least bit. In a few places the German version makes the same errors. I think this comes down to the fact that they are translations, and often it is possible to be technically correct, but contextually incorrect. (Full disclosure I am a native German speaker)

The parody-part refers to the delivery and tone of some characters. Like Geralt, Triss and some others.

 

[Daywalker30]

No, they where talking about W2.

It's still a matter of taste.

I for one really don't why anyone would like the german voice acting of Half Life 2, Mass Effect,... but there are people who like it. You see, it differs from person to person.

 

[Kallelinski]

German version good? Really? From what I have heard, both from the game and from people who are German native speakers, the German voices are quite bad, border-line parody as someone put it.

You should know Germans love to nag, they nag about EVERYTHING, that's not just a cliche, that's a fact

Whole day sun is shining, "meh, my garden is going to dry out"

Whole day it's raining, "meh, my garden will be flooded."

First half of the day it was raining, the latter half sun is shining, "meh, stupid weather can't decide what it wants."


The german voice acting is good and compared to other games even very good, they really put some effort into it and that's not always possible. The (german) synchronisation is not as easy as many think, in most times they only get some random documents with just text without any context, order or pictures, video material? Pah! They have to do the synchro without the actual game.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPjaYLLMwLg[/media]

 

[Mihura]

mmm After the desappoiting experienced I've found in the 2 last game with voiced actors in Spanish I can only choose subtitled translation.

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I actually tried the Spanish version too for the laughs, to bad they do not have the Portuguese version.